ISTANBUL- President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Monday Turkey expected the United States to honor their strategic partnership after U.S. President Donald Trump warned it would devastate Turkey economically if they attack a Kurdish militia in Syria.

Trump's decision to leave Syria, which he initially said would be rapid but later slowed down, shocked US allies and angered the Kurds in Syria, who are vulnerable to attack by Turkey.

US Colonel Sean Ryan, a coalition spokesman, said the coalition "has begun the process of our deliberate withdrawal from Syria".

"Turkey fights against terrorists, not Kurds".

"Turkey expects the USA to honour our strategic partnership and doesn't want it to be shadowed by terrorist propaganda".

"Bolton made a serious mistake". "We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home".

Seeking to quell concern about the USA troop withdrawal from Syria, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday described the American exit as a "tactical change" in military strategy that wouldn't deter efforts to defeat ISIS or hurt US interests in the region.

Since then, USA officials have given mixed messages. "We will be like second-class citizens at best, if we survive as Syriac Christians and Kurds". He said many details around the troop withdrawal still need to be ironed out, but that he was optimistic a "good outcome" could be reached between Turkey and Kurdish groups in Syria.

What has Mike Pompeo said?

Earlier this week, an administration official told CNN that the first U.S. military ground equipment has been withdrawn from the war-torn country.

Last month, Trump announced that he wanted United States troops out of Syria - a decision that resulted in the resignations of Defense Secretary James Mattis and Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIS. Washington and Ankara also sparred over the fate of American Presbyterian minister Andrew Brunson, who was convicted in Turkey of aiding terrorism, and who Ankara was forced to extradite after Trump exerted unprecedented economic pressure.

Share this:

Hot News

Bus rams bus shelter: Dead and injured in OttawaJan 14, 2019 - 09:02
On Saturday Bordeleau clarified that they're still reviewing where the fatalities occurred. The bus was nearly at its 90-passenger capacity when the crash occurred, police say.

Matt Kuchar starts Hawaii vacation with a victoryJan 14, 2019 - 08:11
Former major championship winners Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson missed the cut by one stroke on Friday. Marc Leishman (64), Hudson Swafford (64) and Chez Reavie (67) also finished in a tie for third.

Election runner-up Martin Fayulu rejects DR Congo poll resultJan 11, 2019 - 12:30
Thousands of supporters of Mr Tshisekedi took to the streets to celebrate but those who backed Mr Fayulu also came out in protest. However, runner-up Martin Fayulu, who is also an opposition candidate, has described it as an " electoral coup ".

Bruce Arians could be Jameis Winston's last chanceJan 11, 2019 - 07:42
He has a reputation for developing quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck. Arians last coached Arizona in 2017 when he guided the team to an 8-8 season.

Kelly Manager For Threatening Victims FatherJan 10, 2019 - 12:40
The New York Times reports that investigators from the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Georgia contacted Gerald A. She posted a cover of the book, titled Surviving the Pied Piper: The Untold Story , on her Instagram page.

Schauffele Stuns In Hawaii With Closing 62Jan 10, 2019 - 12:39
The 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year opened with a bogey, but reeled off four birdies and an eagle to make the turn in 6-under 31. He missed it but his birdie was enough to earn a fourth PGA Tour victory and a rise to No.6 in the world rankings.